Posts tagged Regulator

Almost all of the world's biggest tech companies are American, a fact that's got the European Union slightly worried. So worried, in fact, that the EU has started looking into forming a regulatory body with the power to monitor companies like Google and Facebook, ensuring that they don't abuse the...

While Three is currently the UK's fastest-growing network, it certainly can't rest on its laurels. In fact, it's just been given a sharp wake-up call, after Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, handed the carrier a &pound;250,000 fine over its inadequate handling of customer grievances. Accor...

Uber's having a pretty tough time over in Europe, but it's having a luckier streak in the US. After Seattle city council members upheld their decision to place limits on private taxi companies like Uber earlier this year, the city has now reversed that decision, allowing each service to operate fr...

When one massive corporation buys another one, it's not as simple as handing over the dosh and winking. There's also the small matter of the world's competition authorities, which check that the deal won't affect market conditions. China has finally given its blessing to the Microsoft - Nokia tie-...

Almost two years after it updated its privacy policy, Google is still facing the wrath of European watchdogs. The Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) has just ended a seven-month investigation into the search giant's practices and, similar to rulings in the UK and France, has deduced that Google...

No one likes a price hike, especially mid-contract. Neither does UK regulator Ofcom it seems, which is setting out new policy clarification for mobile, broadband and landline suppliers. The guidance is to prevent different "interpretations" of existing policy, and will ensure customers can leave t...

When you think about it, does anyone really know what's going on behind the scenes of the internet? While you're attempting to figure out how "42" is the obvious answer to that, French regulator ARCEP is moving ahead with an investigation into Verizon and AT&amp;T. Specifically, the two have faile...

European regulators have charged Microsoft for not giving Windows 7 users a choice of internet browsers when they install the OS. Although this is only an initial step towards a fine for the software maker, Microsoft agreed with the European Commission to offer browser choices to its Windows users...

Sony, LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sharp will no longer be marketing their TVs and Blu-Ray players as "WiFi ready" in Australia unless they're actually ready to connect to a WiFi network. Many products labeled as such often require the additional purchase of a $100-$120 AUD ($80-$100) dongle, and th...

The long wait for LTE in the UK has already brought new levels of cynicism to a once earnest and optimistic nation, but now, finally, Ofcom has set itself a deadline for auctioning off the prized 4G spectrum to telecoms companies. In a major report published today, it declared that the sale is "se...

Where there's smoke, there's fire and now that the EU's caught a whiff of alleged misconduct on Microsoft's part, it's dragging Windows 8 under the hot lights. Though MS moved swiftly earlier this week to acknowledge and remedy the technical glitch that prevented users from selecting alternate br...

You'd be forgiven for thinking this whole browser choice issue was resolved back in 2009, but no. European regulators are back on Redmond's back, following suspicions that the megacorp may not be complying with the deal it struck all that time ago. Specifically, the allegations focus on versions o...